Malaysians travelling abroad can now pay with DuitNow QR straight from their mobile banking apps at Alipay+ merchants in China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos.
Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) launched the outbound connectivity on 28 October 2026 through Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway of Ant International. Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank are the first three banks on board, with Bank Islam set to join soon.
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Pay Abroad With DuitNow QR in 5 Destinations
The first wave covers five destinations popular with Malaysian travellers: China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos. More markets will be added progressively.
At participating merchants, the one thing to look for is the Alipay+ logo on the shop’s QR code. There is no new app to download and no Alipay+ account to create. The whole payment happens inside the Malaysian banking app you already use.
How Overseas DuitNow QR Payments Work
Paying overseas takes three simple steps:
- Open the DuitNow QR payment function in a supported Malaysian banking app.
- Scan the merchant’s QR code that displays the Alipay+ logo.
- Review the transaction and confirm it within the same app.
That’s it. For travellers, it means one less app to install before a trip.
“As Familiar as Paying at Home”
For PayNet, the launch is part of a long-term roadmap to extend secure and interoperable payment connectivity beyond Malaysia. It also aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia’s vision for faster, more efficient and inclusive cross-border payments.
“Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad. It also shows how collaboration between financial institutions and global payment partners expands the reach of Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure beyond our borders,” said Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet.
He added that stronger payment connectivity can help spending flow more easily across borders and strengthen Malaysia’s economic links with the region.
DuitNow QR Now Works Both Ways
The new service builds on an existing partnership. Since November 2023, travellers using supported Alipay+ partner wallets have been able to pay at DuitNow QR merchants across Malaysia.
That inbound link has helped local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tap into international visitor spending through DuitNow QR, Malaysia’s national QR standard. It also strengthens the country’s tourism economy during Visit Malaysia 2026-2027.
The outbound launch completes the loop, letting customers of participating Malaysian banks pay at Alipay+ merchants abroad. PayNet is among the first national payment systems to expand global acceptance at scale through Alipay+.
Inside the Alipay+ Network
The Alipay+ ecosystem connects more than two billion user accounts across over 50 international payment partners. It reaches more than 150 million merchants in over 210 markets, including more than 10 national payment schemes such as PayNet.
“Our growing partnership with PayNet reflects a shared commitment to taking Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure beyond its borders, connecting it more deeply with the global digital economy,” said Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ Global Growth Center, Ant International.
He said Alipay+ helps national payment systems strengthen two-way interoperable connectivity, so they can play a much greater role in cross-border travel and commerce while driving more inclusive digital economic growth.
Cross-Border Transactions Jump 150% in 2025
Demand is clearly there. PayNet recorded nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025, approximately 150% more than in 2024. Transactions linked to China accounted for much of the growth.
The Alipay+ outbound QR capability is also open to other PayNet-participating banks and e-wallets. As more of them adopt it, more Malaysians will be able to make overseas DuitNow QR payments through apps they already have.
PayNet will continue working with financial institutions and regional partners to expand the service to more apps and markets. Its DuitNow network is already interoperable with domestic payment schemes in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Curious about Malaysia’s cashless shift? Read how Alipay+ is powering Malaysian SMEs with cross-border payments and how digital payments in Malaysia reached 8.44B in 2025.
